hathi) shall be given, Matth. 25. 29.

2. For the time to come. If all that hath been spoken on this point, prove not like water fpilt on the ground; if there be no cause to complain, as Ifa. 49. 4, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought. But that fome good impreffions are made, and abide upon your hearts, as I hope there do, at least upon fome; and that ye really and heartily mind your Soul-profperity, then, in the ftrength of Chirft, refolve upon this exercife: And that ye may make something of it, and have good fuccess in your endeavours, refolve, every day, to apply your felves to Chrift, and pray as ferioufly, awfully, fincerely, affectionately, and believingly for ability to do it, as ye would do for Salvation it felf; for the enjoyment of him in Heaven, whom your Souls love. Even as David (or whoever it Bat compofed the 137 Pfalm) refolved to pray for Jerufalem, ver. 5.6, If I forget thee, O Jerufalem, &c. Better forget to pray for our daily bread, then for this. That's but for the well-fare of our Natural life, this is for the well-fare of our fpiritual life.

Confider therefore.

1. That these spiritual principles, and fpiritual ability to exercise them, are distinct mercies, and feparable the one from the other; as ye have heard from the inftances S 3 given

given of Zachary and Mofes. Mofes fo eminent for meekness, Job for patience, Abrabam for faith; though they abounded in the principle, yet fometimes they came fhort in the exercife.

2. That a heart, and ability to exercise them, is to be had from Chrift; and from him alone, Joh. 15.5, For without me, ye can do nothing. We read Pfal. 51. 14. what David engageth unto; My tongue ball fing a loud of thy righteousness: And ver. 15. we may fee where he looks for ftrength to make good his engagement, O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth fhall fhew forth thy praife. Here Paul had it, Phil. 4. 13, I can do all things through Chrift which strengtheneth me. And he exhorts all, that when they have put on the whole armour of God, and have every grace ready for exercife, yet then to Be trong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, Eph.6.10, 11.

3. Let this be thought, on too: That though we ought to reft upon Chrift, for his affiftance herein, as if he were to do all, and We our felves were to do nothing at all, yet ar we ought fo to ftir up our felves, and exercife our molt ferious thoughts, and endeayours herein, as if no help at all were to be expected from him, Phil, 2. 12, 13, Work out your falvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who worketh in you, both to will,

and to do.

Thus

Thus I have fhewed you (the expreffions in the Text leading me that way) that what in a natural way is neceffary for the health. and well fare of the body, that, in a fpiritual way, is as much neceffary for the health, well-fare, and profperity of the Soul. And this I have fhewed in four Particulars. I told you, when I entred first upon this use That when, in the ufe of thefe means, all begins to be well within, the Soul begins to thrive and profper. Yet it may, poffibly, have its fainting fits; fometimes by reafon of continued afflictions; fometimes from a deep fenfe of invincible infirmities. For the more of thefe gracious, principles there are in the heart, and the more they are exercifed, the more fad impreffion the leaft failing makes upon the heart. No marvel if it be with fuch as it was with Jonah, when the waters compaffed him about, and the reeds were wrapt about his head; then, he faid his Soul fainted within him, Jon. 2. 5, 6, 7. And David had like to have done fo, when falfe witneffes were rifen up against him. I bad fainted, faith he, unless I had believed to fee the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living, Pfal. 27. 12, 13. Now, as when Nature is almost spent, and bodily ftrength fails, there is need of relief by fome comfortable Cordials. As that poor Man, 1 Sam. 30.12. being faint, David's Men gave him

as

S 4

fome

fomething, and then his fpirits came to him, which, it seems, were departing from him. Now, as the Lord Jefus was very tender over thofe, that came from far to hear him, and had been three days with him, left they fhould faint in their way homeward, and therefore he wrought a miracle to relieve them, Matth. 15.32. So without doubt, he is as tender to prevent Soul-fainting, Ifa. 57, 15,16, to revive the Spirit of the humble,

and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth, for the fpirit fhould fail before me, and the Souls which I have made. Something therefore must be faid to this. Therefore, though I cannot defcend to particulars, (that would be too great a work) I fhall only give fome general rules, which may be indifferently applyed to all cafes. Let then every Soul, that is ready to faint:

1. Do as Jonah did, in the place before quoted, chap. 2. ver. 7, My Soul fainteḍ within, and I remembred the Lord. Remembrance implies dependence, Pfal. 20. 7, But we will remember the name of the Lord our God. This is prefcribed for a fainting Soul, Ifa, 50. 10, Who is among you, that feareth the Lord, and obeyeth the voice of his fervant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon bis God. Now we must know BRIC that

that the Name of the Lord, may have reference to that name, Exod. 34.5, 6, 7, The Lord, the Lord God,merciful and gracious,&c. This is very chearing. For a fainting Soul may fometimes take encouragement from an Attribute of God, when he doubts whether he may touch with a promise, or no. Or it may have reference to that name, Fer. 23,6, The Lord our Righteousness. Certainly, when a Soul feeth nothing in it felf whereby it can challenge any interest, in any ground of comfort: yet because there is grace, and mercy enough in the name of God, and merit, and righteousness enough in the Son of God; fuch a Soul may fee ground enough to refolve, as Ifa. 8.17, I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. Pfal. 34, 5, They looked to him, and were lightened, and their faces were not ashamed. Though all the clouds were not presently fcattered, yet they had fome light. And a little Candle in a dark room, in a very dark night, though it do not make it day, as the Sun doth, yet it is fome reviving, till the day do appear.

32. Let it be well confidered, what God impofeth upon fainting Souls, as one great part of their work, in such a season, Pfal. 55.22, Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he hall fuftain thee he shall never fuffer the Bhow t

righteous